I definitely believe that animals have spirits. We had a horse on this property a long time ago and I used to feed him molasses oats once in a while. He absolutely loved them and knew when I had that in mind when I approached the barn. He would either already be in the barn nickering away or he would be trotting for the barn like it had a bathroom.

Anyway, one day I walked out to the field and found him lying down, dead. He was really Karl's horse, but I grew to love him dearly. Time went on and a few months later, I was working outside near the barn. I heard a horse nicker about ten feet away from me. I kept working but was thinking, "King wants his oats. I'd better go get ... Wait a minute!!!" He was still there nickering totally invisible. That has happened less and less over the years, but I do still smell him occasionally, that wonderful earthy horse smell.

We had a golden labrador retriever who I found wandering alone one day - he was wandering alone - not me. He was about six weeks old and the way he looked at me, you would have thought I was a goddess - and he did and I was and I am. He was utterly devoted to me and protected me everywhere we went. He was 14 when tortion gut got him when we were on a trip. He is still around as is a my Mom's little Shih Tzu, Chin, who died here about 12 years ago. I hear him barking just outside the house and think my current, alive Shih Tzu, Pippin Took Guhm, is barking and then remember that he is inside the house fast asleep. And there are other critters still around. They like it here on our peaceful two acres.

So I believe that when I pass over, I will be greeted by all my critter friends who will probably outnumber the humans!

We had a German Shepherd, Sampson, when I was growing up. He lived to be almost 14 years old. When I would go into our garage, he would pass by the garage door and sniff under the door.

About two years after his death, I was out in our garage and I see a shadow pass under the door and hear the distinct sound of sniffing from the other side of the door. What made it more surreal was that the sniffing moved the dust on the floor of the garage.

I opened the door and was not surprised when I saw that no animal was present. Kind of shook me up, but also very comforting too. He was a very loving member of our family.